Track-joint.



PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904;.

W. J MEEKS.

TRACK JOINT.

APPLIOA'I'IDH FILED MAY 25. 1904.

2 SHEETS-S No. 778,689. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904. W. J. MEEKS.

TRACK JOINT,

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 25. 1904.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented December 27', 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

TRACK-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,689, dated December 2'7, 1904.

Application filed May 25.1904. Serial No. 209,713.

To all whom, zit may concern.-

Be it known-that LIVILLIAM J. MEEKs, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Loyal, in the county of Clark and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad-rails, and more particularly to the joints therefor, and has for its object to provide a rail-joint in which the rails will be positively held together, which will prevent movement of the rails with respect to each other during the passage of a train thereover, and in which the fish-plates and a number of the fasteningbolts will be eliminated.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a track employing the present form of joint. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the present joint. Fig. 3 is a view of the meeting ends of two rails. Fig. 4c is a top plan View of the joint.

Referring now to the drawings, there are shown two sections of rail 5 and 6, having laterally-projecting portions 7 and 8, respectively, at their ends, which are formed integral with the rails. In the end face of the rail 5 and of the portion 7 there is formed a T-shaped recess 9, the stem of the T extending horizontally, and with this recess there is engaged a corresponding T-shaped lug 10, formed upon the end face of the rail 6 and its portion 8, the rails being thus held against movement laterally and vertically with respect to each other and being held against separation by means of a bolt 11, which is disposed in a perforation in the portion 8 and has its threaded end engaged with a threaded perforation 13 in the portion 7 of the rail 5.

Upon its side face opposite to the projection 7 the rail 5 is provided with an enlargement 14:, having a dovetail groove 15 therein, which extends longitudinally of the rail, and engaged with this groove is adovetail tongue 16, which is formed upon the corresponding face ofthe rail 6 and projects beyond the end thereof.

The rails 5 and 6 are provided with the usual base-flanges, and the portions 7 and 8 are provided with similar flanges 17 for engagement by spikes to hold the rails to the ties.

In practice modifications of the specific construction shown and described may be made, and any suitable materials may be used Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

IV hat is claimed is 1. A rail-joint comprising two rails having laterally-projecting portions at their meeting ends formed integral therewith, one of said rails having a T-shaped recess in its end face, the stem thereof extending into the face of its laterally-projecting portion, the remaining rail having a corresponding T-shaped lug engaged with the recess, said laterally-projecting portions having alining perforations therein, and a bolt disposed in said perforations.

2. A rail-joint comprising two rails having laterally-projecting portions at their ends, a lug carried by one of the rails and its laterallyprojecting portion, the remaining rail and laterally-projecting portion having a corresponding recess with which the lug is engaged, the two laterally-projecting portions having alining perforations therein, a bolt engaged with the perforations to prevent separation of the rails, one of said rails having a longitudinal groove therein, and a tongue carried by the other rail and engaged in the groove.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TILLIAIVI J. MEEKS. l/Vitnesses:

GEO. W. BARKER, JOHN ARQUETTE. 

